Con in g, Op.8 No.2 'Summer': I. Allegro Non Molto
Con in g, Op.8 No.2 'Summer': II. Adagio
Con in g, Op.8 No.2 'Summer': III. Presto
Con in F, Op.8 No.3 'Autumn': I. Allegro
Con in F, Op.8 No.3 'Autumn': II. Adagio Molto
Con in F, Op.8 No.3 'Autumn': III. Allegro
Con in f, Op.8 No.4 'Winter': I. Allegro Non Molto
Con in f, Op.8 No.4 'Winter': II. Largo
Con in f, Op.8 No.4 'Winter': III. Allegro
Any new recording of Vivaldi's ubiquitous Four Seasons has to fight the "ho-hum" factor. The catalogue is bursting with recordings of the popular work, including transcriptions for the most improbable instruments. Some of ... more »the newer versions, like those by Shaham, Mutter, and Kennedy , fight the "ho-hum" factor with idiosyncratic interpretations. Chung, to her credit, gives a mainline, rather traditional reading that features luscious violinism and apt characterization of Vivaldi's pictorial elements without imposing extreme or anachronistic elements. At times, as in the first movement of "Summer," her quiet playing is ravishing, while the fast movements go like the wind. The string ensemble backing her plays with spirited warmth and, unlike many rival recordings, the violin is not thrust into unnatural prominence. While Chung easily overcomes the "ho-hum" factor, EMI fumbled the ball by not adding fillers--a 41-minute CD is hard to justify these days. --Dan Davis« less
Any new recording of Vivaldi's ubiquitous Four Seasons has to fight the "ho-hum" factor. The catalogue is bursting with recordings of the popular work, including transcriptions for the most improbable instruments. Some of the newer versions, like those by Shaham, Mutter, and Kennedy , fight the "ho-hum" factor with idiosyncratic interpretations. Chung, to her credit, gives a mainline, rather traditional reading that features luscious violinism and apt characterization of Vivaldi's pictorial elements without imposing extreme or anachronistic elements. At times, as in the first movement of "Summer," her quiet playing is ravishing, while the fast movements go like the wind. The string ensemble backing her plays with spirited warmth and, unlike many rival recordings, the violin is not thrust into unnatural prominence. While Chung easily overcomes the "ho-hum" factor, EMI fumbled the ball by not adding fillers--a 41-minute CD is hard to justify these days. --Dan Davis
CD Reviews
A picturesque recording
Passionate | 02/19/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have heard and I own many great performances of The Four Seasons including Gil Shaham, Claudio Scimone and Neville Mariner. But Kyun Wha Chung's new recording of the Four Seaons became my instant favorite. I have never heard any Four Seasons this intense and this animated and yet stylistically correct. This, certainly, is not a dinner music or a background music. But start this CD, lie in your bathtub and close your eyes. You will live four seasons in forty minutes."
Superb music-making, no idiosyncrasies, pure and thrilling
Passionate | Stoke on Trent, UK | 08/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Why did Kyung Wha Chung make this CD? She has produced recorded performances of legendary artistry, such as the Mendelssohn with Dutoit, the Sibelius Tchaikovsy Bruch (& Scottish Fantasy) with Previn, the Bruch and Beethoven with Tennstedt, and the fabulous Bartok 2 and Brahms with Sir Simon Rattle. Also there is the exquisite Franck Sonata with Radu Lupu.
Meanwhile, the 4 seasons has over the years endured all sorts of pillage and torture, the likes of Nigel Kennedy making mavericke with it etc. So, why did this legend in her own lifetime decide to record these concerti? After listening to this CD over and over, the answer is crystal clear. This is purely and simply an opportunity for magical music-making. Playing Vivaldi with sparklingly unmannered joy shows just how wonderful and fresh this music can be. Listen to the first movement of Winter - a perfectly glacial display of immaculate articulation, but never devoid of feeling. In short, an ensemble performance without exaggeration, without oversentimentalising, but delicious.
My favourite performance till now has been the silvery classics for pleasure version with Kenneth Sillito, now sadly deleted. This new release by Kyung Wha Chung has some of the same spontaneity, and is a very good choice. A pity it's full price, it could have been offered with additional material. Nevertheless, this is one disc you will listen to again and again."
Excellent performance and recording
chung che kim | suwon,south korea | 04/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kyung-Wha chung offer a superly imaginative version of Vivaldi's Four season on modern instruments. The solo playing is powerful and warmly expressive. Some collectors will find full price a bit steep for 41 minutes, however excellent performance and recording."
Good recording for serious musicians.
dcartt | 12/06/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This recording is Chung's first Vivaldi 4 Seasons recording.
She looks beautiful, She sound beautiful, and she is still very passionate.
But this recording is too hard to understand for non-musicians. She is performing it with a lot of thing in it but you can't notice it fast.
To hear a refreshing and powerful Vivaldi, I would recommend Anne-Sophie Mutter's second recording with Trondheim."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1